How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions This Year
Hey there, Hokies! Dottie here and I’m feeling free as a bird because it’s 2020. The new year has arrived! Every new year, most of us write resolutions with the goal to improve our lives in the coming year. A little birdy told me that you were struggling to keep your New Year’s Resolutions this year. Whether your goal was to eat less junk food or to get more organized, don’t fret—struggling to keep your resolutions within the first few weeks is normal. Without feather ado, I’ve got a few tips on how you can successfully make a New Year’s resolution that you’ll stick to for good!
- Pick ONE
I know we all have a long list of things that we would like to improve this year but…pick ONE. Picking one resolution allows ourselves to focus all of our energy and attention on that one goal. Along with that, choose a goal that is realistic and attainable. Don’t set yourself up for failure with an unrealistic and unattainable resolution.
- Plan ahead
Planning is ESSENTIAL. We need to think about how we can be successful. What do we need to change? How are we going to do this? Without a plan, we may give up when we start to face any difficult challenges or obstacles. First, let’s do some research. My New Year’s resolution is to take up yoga because I want to be light as a feather and relax this new year. Whatever your resolution is, we may need to brush up on our knowledge through books or the Internet. We need to anticipate what we may need to complete our goals. After doing research, we can make a list of things to do in order to achieve our goals and note any obstacles that stand in our way. For example, I need to find a yoga studio near me and buy the appropriate clothing and materials needed.
- Start small
Small steps lead to big changes! Remember to be realistic in how you will achieve your goals. Don’t take on too much from the beginning or you will feel more inclined to give up. If you’re trying to run a marathon, start small by going on a run two or three times a week and then build from there. If you’re trying to quit a bad habit, start small by slowly decreasing the habit instead of quitting cold turkey. Small changes make it easier to stick to your new habits, so don’t get discouraged!
- Get support from friends and family
Keeping yourself accountable by telling friends and family will make it more likely that you will stick to your resolution. It is a lot harder to quit your goals when you have loved ones rooting for your success! You may even consider finding a friend who shares the same goal, such as a workout partner or an accountability partner. Friends and family can offer amazing encouragement and motivation as you work towards achieving your goals.
- Track your progress
Your goals should be measurable and attainable. Since we started with small goals, we can keep track of our small successes. Each small accomplishment will keep morale and motivation high and push us further in our journeys. For example, if you’re trying to eat healthier, keep a food journal and track your progress every so often.
- Reward yourself
Reward yourself throughout the journey! Rewards serve as great encouragement and motivation as you achieve the small steps towards your end-goal. Remember to reward yourself with things that don’t hinder your progress. If you’re trying to lose weight, reward yourself with a spa or movie day instead of indulging in junk food. Rewards are important motivators and you deserve it after all of your hard work!
Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you achieve your goals and resolutions this year. I can’t wait to hear all about your progress and successes! Stick to it, don’t get discouraged and keep working towards a better you. I’m wishing every day of the new year to be filled with success, happiness and prosperity for you. HAPPY NEW YEAR HOKIES and cheers to 2020!
XOXO,
Dottie